The month of May marks Mental Health Awareness Month. Healthy Archuleta is committed to increasing access to mental and behavioral health care services in Archuleta County and local workforce development.
As part of this process, Healthy Archuleta partnered with Stacey Foss, counselor, to host a two-part motivational interviewing training.
Participants included representatives from different health, education and human service agencies around Archuleta County.
Motivational interviewing is a counseling method described as an “evidence based, person centered method for fostering change and growth.”
A motivational interviewing approach helps people explore the ambivalence and challenges they are facing in making positive behavior changes. This therapy method can be applied within a wide range of helping professions, including the field of mental and behavioral health.
On May 9, participants learned about motivational interviewing and how to incorporate it into their work with agencies.
Foss introduced the training goals and what participants could expect from next month’s session. Everyone introduced themselves and their job positions, and shared their familiarity with motivational interviewing and its benefits.
Foss discussed the five stages of change: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance. Participants identified characteristics of each stage and its appearance in individuals. They also practiced rephrasing questions into open-ended ones, a key aspect of using the motivational interviewing method.
Motivational interviewing is a style that is person-centered. It is built on the belief that everyone and anyone is capable of making a lasting positive behavioral change in their life.
Everyone at this training will have the opportunity to use this skill in the work they do and, hopefully, in turn, will have a positive impact on the community members they serve.
The second motivational interviewing training session that is a part of this series will take place early next month, and participants will have the opportunity to have one-on-one practice with each other and keep learning how to build on change talk.
Stay tuned to hear more. To learn more about the efforts of Healthy Archuleta, please visit our website at www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org or send us an email at fsfearchuleta@gmail.com.
